On this page, you will find resources to support learning at all age levels across our state about the hazards of lead in water and how we can work together to prevent exposure to lead.
Why teach about lead in water in the classroom?
Exposure to lead can have lifelong health impacts, and children are particularly susceptible to these harmful effects.
Schools across the state are checking for lead hazards through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program, which presents a timely opportunity to also educate children and families about lead in water, how it gets there, what we can do about it, through multiple disciplines.
These curricular activities support state standards across disciplines, in social studies, ELA, math, and science, including the active classroom science standards.
The goal of the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program is to identify and eliminate lead and asbestos hazards where North Carolina children learn and play. Children spend much of their early lives in child care and educational buildings, so it is especially important to identify health hazards in these settings. If lead hazards are identified in a building, actions can be taken to reduce or eliminate the hazard. Learn how our program helps fulfill North Carolina rule requirements related to lead in water.
Join other leaders in this work!
In the spring of 2024, the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids curriculum team conducted focus groups with K-12 teachers from across North Carolina who piloted these materials with their students. Their feedback was used to revise materials for improved implementation for each grade band. Below are direct quotes from focus group participants.
“These materials are great and thought provoking! I think it's important that more students get access to these, so please promote this to more teachers - especially Earth/Environmental Science teachers. It fits in perfectly with our standards.” --High School Science Teacher
“The thing that got them most engaged was the Flint, Michigan information and the human health aspect of it. The map helped to hit home; human health impact was the area that was most intriguing to them.” -- High School Science Teacher
“My kids gave good responses to the questions on the Hyperdoc and I believe learned a lot about lead in our water supply. I really liked these resources.” -- Middle School CTE (Agriculture) Teacher
“I appreciated the fact that materials were flexible and accessible. I like that it is focused on STEM and is also cross curricular, so that it can fit into any teacher’s curriculum.” --Elementary Teacher
See more information here: 3CK Instructional Support Guide
Curriculum Support Materials
These curriculum support materials are designed to engage students, teachers, parents, and the school community in the lead exposure prevention work that has been ongoing in North Carolina schools through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program.
Each link below goes to a preview template for teachers. Once you are in the file, click on “USE TEMPLATE” in the top right corner to create a copy for use from your Google Drive.
Take-home Materials for Families
- Lead in Water 101
- Coastal Plains - Water Sources Info and Contaminant Simulation
- Mountains - Water Sources Info and Contaminant Simulation
- Piedmont - Water Sources Info and Contaminant Simulation
Elementary School Resources
Middle School Resources
- Lesson Plan - Protecting Water Quality of North Carolina
- Slide Deck - Protecting Water Quality of North Carolina
- HyperDoc - Protecting Water Quality of North Carolina
High School Resources